Best STARLUX offers to Hakodate

Hakodate, a romantic harbor city infused with Western ambiance

Hakodate, the southernmost city in Hokkaido, is surrounded by the sea on three sides, and was Japan's first trading port. Hakodate has a strong historical sentiment among the city's neighborhoods, a fusion of European and Japanese cultures, and a vibrant year-round scenery, which, along with the beautiful night view and fresh seafood, makes it a popular and attractive city.

Explore Hakodate

The Hakodate Morning Market, located right next to the station, is the best way to start your day! There are more than 250 stores, including the Donburi Yokocho Market, which sells fresh seafood, seasonal fruits, daily groceries, and Hakodate's representative products such as squid senbei and kombu candies, and the Ekini Market, which has a special squid-fishing event, where customers can fish for live squid in the market's tanks, and have them made into sashimi by a chef on the spot, which gives the visitors a great deal of fun and novelty.

Going to the north, there comes a Goryokaku Park, designed with a giant star-shaped outline, which was built as a military fortress at the end of the Edo period but is now a park open to the general public for visits and walks. The park offers a variety of scenery throughout the seasons, with 1,600 cherry trees blooming along the moat in spring, maple red in autumn, and a dreamy landscape of snow and frozen rivers in winter. You can spend about half an hour circling around the area, or climb the Goryokaku Tower to get a panoramic view of the huge star-shaped castle. Yunokawa Onsen is an old hot spring area, and can be reached by city tram or bus from downtown Hakodate. Whether you want to arrange a trip to Yunokawa Onsen Day Spa or stay at a local hotel for a night, it is quite easy and convenient.

Going south to Hakodate's "Bay Area", you can take Suehiro-cho Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse as the first stop, which is connected by 4 red brick warehouses and was built in the 1920s as a business warehouse. Nowadays, the monumental building has been converted into a comprehensive commercial facility, which has a wide range of department stores, drugstores, gourmet restaurants, and cultural and creative stores. In addition, the popular Lucky Pierrot Burger, which is known as the most delicious burger in Japan, and the Salt Ramen are the local delicacies you can't miss in Kanamori Warehouse. Walking along Hachimanzaka, the "most beautiful street in Hakodate," the straight road extends all the way from Hachiman Shrine at the top to the harbor, and the blue sea and sky intertwine with the stone-stacked road to build up a very beautiful picture, making it a must-visit landmark scenery in Hakodate. The Motomachi Church District, on the other hand, preserves many Western-style buildings and churches, such as the Motomachi Catholic Church, the Hakodate Orthodox Church, and the Old British Consulate in Hakodate City, which are characterized by an exotic atmosphere and ambiance.

At night, you can't miss the night view of Mount Hakodate, one of the world's top three night views. You can reach the top of the mountain in 3 minutes by cable car, and the headland terrain gathers the lights of the neighborhood, which complements the nighttime ocean to form a perfect 360-degree panoramic view, just like an incomparably sparkling jewel box. The night view of Hakodate changes depending on the seasons. In spring and fall, the air is clear, which makes the view wider, and you can even see the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture; in summer, the night view tends to be foggy, which creates a kind of misty beauty; and in winter, the reflection of countless streetlights on the snow makes you feel like you have entered the world of a fairy tale, and it shines brightly.

The best travel season

Hakodate, situated in Hokkaido, has four distinctive seasons and is popular for sightseeing throughout the year. In spring, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and it is a good time to visit Goryokaku Park or Hakodate Park to see thousands of cherry blossoms flourishing. When the summer comes, the branches and leaves are lush and green, and from July to September, Hakodate's famous squid is abundantly produced. In autumn, the red leaves are brightly colored. In winter, there is glistening snow, and in December, a huge Christmas tree is erected in the harbor, which is very fantastic.

City transportation

Hakodate is a small city with a lot to offer. The main sightseeing spots are not far away, so it is a good place to take a walk and enjoy every corner of the city, or buy a one-day pass and take a bus or the Hakodate City Tram, which runs every 6 to 12 minutes. You can easily visit Hakodate Station, Motomachi, Goryokaku, and other main sightseeing spots.

Search for flights of STARLUX Airlines to plan a trip to Hakodate, and enjoy a safe and high-quality flight experience worth to be treasured in your heart!

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